BELWEST - Chamber of Commerce

Our San Francisco Chapter leader David Hubert had the privilege of representing Belwest at a dinner organized by hub.brussels to celebrate the vibrant community of Belgian 🇧🇪 entrepreneurs in San Francisco. We had the honor of attending this inspiring gathering, where Belgian business owners from the Bay Area connected with a delegation of Belgian companies in town for the TechCrunch Disrupt conference. It was a fantastic opportunity to network, share insights, and exchange experiences on bringing businesses from Belgium to the Bay Area 🤝 We were also honored by the presence of Belgian Consul General Sophie Hottat and Honorary Consul Nathalie D. whose support for Belgian companies is invaluable. Meeting so many talented entrepreneurs and leaders was truly inspiring. We look forward to more collaborations and exchanges that strengthen our #Belwest community! 🙏🏻 Heartfelt thanks to Eric Gabrys and Will Sweeney-Samuelson for their daily concrete help and super insights to the entrepreneurs and for organizing this gathering! Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles | Embassy of Belgium in the United States of America | Belgian Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad (BLCCA) #HubBrussels #BelgianEntrepreneurs #TechCrunchDisrupt #Networking #SanFrancisco #BelgianBusiness

San Francisco - Join Us for an Exclusive Panel on the EU AI Act 🇪🇺 on Nov 14th. Belwest, in collaboration with the EuroCham - Association of American European Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations invites you to a compelling discussion on the European Union AI Act—an influential regulation reshaping the future of artificial intelligence in Europe and impacting policy worldwide, including in the USA. 👉 Join our San Francisco chapter leader, David Hubert, and an esteemed panel of experts as they delve into: 🔹The critical provisions of the EU AI Act 🔹Ethical considerations and their impact on innovation 🔹How this legislation is setting the groundwork for global AI standards Our distinguished panel includes👇 🔹Gerard de Graaf – Senior Envoy for Digital at the European Union Delegation to the United States and head of the EU office in San Francisco 🔹Florence G'SELL – Professor of Private Law, Stanford University 🔹Yaad Oren – Managing Direcror, SAP Labs 🔹Julie Owono – Executive Director of Internet Sans Frontières and founding member of the Facebook Oversight Board Moderated by Nick Larson 🙌 Whether you’re a policymaker, AI enthusiast, or industry leader, don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from top experts, engage in forward-looking discussions, and explore how the EU AI Act is redefining the AI landscape. 💡 Secure your spot today! 📅 Date: November 14, 2024 📍 Location: SAP Labs, 135 Townsend Street, San Francisco, CA 94107 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gicJPBqH (mention you're with BELWEST for a discount) 🍱🍷 Enjoy complimentary appetizers, beer, wine, and soft drinks as part of this exclusive event. Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office San Francisco | Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) | Wallonia Export & Investment Agency | hub.brussels Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles | DRUVEN #AIEthics #EUAIAct #Innovation #ArtificialIntelligence #Regulation #AI

✨ #BelwestGala ✨ - An unforgettable live performance awaits! We’re thrilled to announce that Grammy Award-winning composer and performer Nathalie Bonin will be joining us for our gala! Known for her work with Netflix on Bridgerton, Apple TV, or SHOWTIME, Nathalie is a dynamic member of the Recording Academy and the Television Academy. Her impressive collaborations include Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, and she recorded her album « Aspirations » at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. In addition to sharing her journey insights during a panel moderated by Jennifer Solomon-Baum 🎗️, Nathalie will treat our guests to a live performance of her latest compositions, including a unique collaboration on a piece by Sven Faulconer. Playing on her cherished violin crafted by Belgian luthier Isabelle Wilbaux, her performance promises to be magical. 👉 Don’t miss this exceptional event on November 9th in #Hollywood! A limited number of tickets and tables are still available. Join us in celebrating these extraordinary talents: https://lnkd.in/eeBgYeXv 🙏🏻 Gratitude to our Gala Premium Partners: DRUVEN | Telesign | Production Resource Group | Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) | Wallonia Export & Investment Agency | hub.brussels | Luxembourg Trade and Invest | Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles | Luxembourg Consulate General, San Francisco Wallonie Bruxelles Images | Belgian Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad (BLCCA)

The #CES2025 - Consumer Technology Association is fast approaching! From January 7-10, 2025, over 138,000 attendees will gather at the world's premier tech event in Las Vegas, NV. This is where businesses make deals, forge partnerships, and where industry leaders unveil their latest innovations and game-changing breakthroughs. 👉 The theme this year is “Dive In,” emphasizing how technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. In this fast-moving digital era, how do the world’s top brands not just keep up but lead the way? Key facts👇 🔹259 Fortune 500 companies 🔹151 countries, territories, and regions represented 🔹63% of registrants are senior-level executives Whether you're a first-time attendee or a CES regular, Belwest is here to help you navigate and connect at this flagship event. Whether you’re interested in exploring cutting-edge innovation, tapping into networking opportunities, securing investments, or expanding your business, we’re ready to make it happen for you. With over a decade of CES participation, we’ve built strong networks and are ready to unlock new possibilities for your business. Don’t miss our signature mixer, just steps away from the convention center, where top-tier connections gather in a relaxed setting. We’re proud to have been recognized by Forbes as one of the must-attend CES side events. 👉 Stay tuned for details on the date and location. We’re excited to soon announce the entrepreneurs and companies from Belgium 🇧🇪 and Luxembourg 🇱🇺 joining the mission. We’ll also be welcoming and supporting many of our members, with the official mission again receiving personal backing from Gary Shapiro, CEO at Consumer Technology Association. 🤝 Both Consul Generals 🇧🇪 Sophie Hottat and 🇱🇺 Daniel Da Cruz will honor us with their presence as well. Ready to dive in? Contact our CEO, Alain Charbonnier, for more information and a personalized program! 🎟️ Registration link 🔗 in the comments. Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) | Wallonia Export & Investment Agency | hub.brussels | Luxembourg Trade & Investment Office San Francisco | DRUVEN | Forbes Belgium | Forbes Luxembourg

✨ #BelwestGala ✨ - New talent announcement: Sven Faulconer. 🇧🇪 Belgian-born Sven is a Los Angeles-based composer for film and television, known for his distinctive and diverse musical style. His impressive body of work spans various genres, including his recent co-composition of the score for ‘Scream VI’ alongside Brian Tyler. Sven’s music for the 2023 Oscar-winning Netflix documentary ‘The Elephant Whisperers’ earned him nominations for Best Score at the Jackson Wild Media Awards and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. We’re so excited to have Sven Faulconer share his inspiring journey from Belgium to the U.S., where he has contributed to numerous world-renowned productions. 👉 Don’t miss this exceptional event! Join us on November 9th in #Hollywood - Tickets and table opportunities are still available. join us in celebrating remarkable talents: https://lnkd.in/eeBgYeXv Delegation of Flanders to the USA 🙏🏻 Gratitude to our Gala Premium Partners: DRUVEN | Telesign | Production Resource Group | Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) | Wallonia Export & Investment Agency | hub.brussels | Luxembourg Trade and Invest | Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles | Luxembourg Consulate General, San Francisco

Join the dynamic Brussels companies on their mission organized by hub.brussels during TechCrunch #TCDisrupt2024 in San Francisco, from October 28-30. They’re all set to showcase their innovation and talent at booth E23 at the iconic Moscone Center. 🙌 Special shoutout to our member Skemmi and its CEO, Lionel Lawson, who will present their groundbreaking solutions. Skemmi creates captivating short interactive games played by crowds on large cinema screens, offering advertisers and event organizers the ability to enhance impact, engagement, retention, and enjoyment. 💡 Meet the 8 exceptional #Brussels #startups and #entrepreneurs reshaping their industries: GEME ByQwest ulalo.io VoxelSensors CashewNotes Ingram Technologies Maison Le Vaux Skemmi 🗓️ Don’t miss the 3-minute pitch session on Tuesday, October 29th at 11:30am! It’s a unique opportunity to hear directly from our innovative startups. 👉 With over 10,000 attendees from 125 countries, it’s the perfect event for networking with investors, founders, and potential customers, and to hear from top industry leaders like Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, A.C. Charania, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Chief Technologist, Ashton Kutcher, Co-Founder of Sound Ventures and Vinod Khosla, Founder of Khosla Ventures. ➡️ Be sure to visit the hub.brussels pavilion (E23) and join us at #TCDisrupt2024! Reach out if you need a free pass to meet the #startups. 👉 Our San Francisco chapter leader, David Hubert is available for any side programs. He will be joined by our community member Ben Luts, coming from San Diego. A special thank you to Eric Gabrys, Will Sweeney-Samuelson, Gauthier Hecq, and Julia Poncin for supporting these amazing entrepreneurs. DRUVEN | Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles

#BelwestGala – We are incredibly honored to welcome Victor le Masne to our Gala on November 9th at The Aster in Hollywood. As the musical director and composer for the Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024, Victor will share with our guests exclusive insights into the remarkable process of creating music that resonated with billions of sports fans and music lovers worldwide. 🎶 You probably still have his incredible official theme "Parade" in your head! Victor also oversaw the music for the opening and closing ceremonies, collaborating with our Belgian 🇧🇪 treasure Angèle on the hit "Nightcall" by Kavinsky and Phoenix. 👉 Don’t miss this extraordinary event! Tickets and tables are still available: https://lnkd.in/eeBgYeXv Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles | Luxembourg Consulate General, San Francisco | Team Belgium | Comité Olympique et Sportif Luxembourgeois | LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games | Consulate General of France in Los Angeles

It was a truly inspiring evening celebrating Diane von Furstenberg, the fearless Belgian fashion designer, entrepreneure, and philanthropist. The Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles hosted an intimate conversation with Diane to mark the U.S. debut of the exhibition, "Woman Before Fashion," currently on display at the Skirball Cultural Center. With the support of her friend, Nicolas Lor, curator at the Fashion & Lace Museum in Brussels, Diane generously shared the highlights of her remarkable journey—from immigrating to the U.S. to launch her design career, to her unwavering dedication to women's empowerment, all accompanied by her immense sense of humor and joy for life. Through her many DVF (Diane von Furstenberg) projects, Diane has consistently honored her Brussels heritage, infusing her work with a distinct Belgian touch. Alain Charbonnier: “Diane is a permanent source of inspiration for entrepreneurship and resilience”. We are deeply grateful to have shared this memorable experience with our premium members and encourage everyone to visit the exhibition for an empowering experience! Embassy of Belgium in the United States of America | hub.brussels | DRUVEN | #DVF #InCharge 📸 Claire Painchaud

Celebrating the 600 years of the Belgian University KU Leuven, the KU Leuven Alumni - US Chapter and Amici Lovanienses Inc., recently hosted a networking event in Menlo Park, California. A great way to connect with the vast alumni community active in prestigious #tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area. For the occasion, our SF chapter leader, David Hubert had the pleasure of interacting with the delegation from KU Leuven, led by Prof. Dr. Peter Lievens, Vice Rector of International Policy, Interculturality, and Alumni Policy. On the academic level, KU Leuven is also engaging with many major universities in the region to strengthen the transatlantic cooperation and push research. Thank you for a perfect evening and we are already looking forward to the next one! Martine Bolsens-Peetermans | Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles | DRUVEN

A few weeks ago, our CEO Alain Charbonnier embarked on a successful business trip to 🇧🇪, further strengthening the transatlantic ties between Europe and the Western US. Here are some key highlights from his mission👇 Alain participated in the BLCCA Academy, the annual gathering of 40 Belgian Luxembourg Chambers of Commerce abroad (BLCCA), alongside Voka - Kamer van Koophandel Vlaams-Brabant, Voka - Kamer van Koophandel West-Vlaanderen, CCI's, and BECI. Belwest proudly shared insights from its development journey, presenting growth strategies, ideas, and concepts to the Academy’s members. We joined a conference where we were graciously welcomed by Bert Mons, CEO of Voka - Kamer van Koophandel West-Vlaanderen and René Branders, President of the Belgian Chambers and President of VBO FEB. Steven Van Hecke, Professor of European Politics at KU Leuven, delivered an insightful presentation on European politics and institutions within the current international context. On the second day, we visited AGRISTO NV, the world’s fifth-largest fries manufacturer in Wielsbeke, and LVD, a leading sheet metal working machine manufacturer in Gullegem. A heartfelt thank you to Brigitte Verkinderen and team for the flawless organization and warm hospitality. We also enjoyed a fantastic partner event in Zemst, organized by our premium member International Management Solutions Inc. Special thanks to Ben Troch and Leentje De Leeuw for hosting us and fostering local connections. We were excited to participate in the "Fuckup Night Brussels and Wallonia" at TheMerode, which featured inspiring talks from our board member Katrien Herdewyn, CEO of Elegnano, cedric charlier, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist in hockey, and Malik Abrighach who navigated the challenges of managing a luxury car rental business during COVID. Alongside our premium member TLS-EXPRESS, we attended the Wallonia Business Awards, hosted by Wallonia Export & Investment Agency featuring Pascale Delcomminette, Michel Kempeneers and Hubert Goffinet. Throughout the trip, we held numerous meetings with members, partners, volunteers, and our Brussels team, including our chapter leader Guillaume Nelis and Constance Powis. We also met with the team behind Belgium’s Oscar selection film and connected with Team Belgium, Skemmi, Tachycardia Production, Meridiem, Colette Demay - Editeur Chocolat, or Trendtracker by Trensition. They all have exciting projects planned for the Western US, and we’re eager to continue supporting their aspirations. Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT) | Wallonia Export & Investment Agency | hub.brussels | Consulate General of Belgium in Los Angeles